Carly Fiorina knows a thing or two about what it takes for a woman to be successful in the United States. The former CEO of Hewlett Packard believes there is something very wrong with the modern feminist movement, and she is determined to do something about it if elected president.

“Feminism began as a rallying cry to empower women – to vote, to get an education, to enter the workplace,” Fiorina said Thursday in Washington. “But over the years, feminism has devolved into a left-leaning political ideology where women are pitted against men and used as a political weapon to win elections.”

Speaking to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Fiorina said it was “time for a new definition” of feminism. “Today, only 23 percent of women identify with the term feminist. Liberal ideas aren’t the answer. Their version of feminism isn’t working.”

Fiorina drew applause from the audience when she proffered her own ideas about how to best help American women. She proposed over-the-counter birth control options, expanded school choice, and an end to regulations that stifle small businesses as a start. She also insisted that women should be free to choose their path in life, whether that meant rising to the top of a company or staying home to care for children.

“Or run for president,” she said cheekily.

A Battle Worth Fighting

When Democrats claim Republicans are waging a war on women, what they really mean is a war against feminism. And it’s high time we had a prominent conservative woman capable of drawing that distinction. Efforts to protect life are not aimed at keeping women down. Nor is it anti-women to oppose meaningless legislation meant to address phantom problems like the gender pay gap. Contrary to what the media would have us believe, millions of American women want nothing to do with the modern feminist movement.

But if you ask liberals, you have only two options. You can vote for Democrats or you can admit that you hate women. They have branded themselves the only voice worth listening to on women’s issues, and they have successfully brainwashed voters into believing that anyone who opposes their agenda is a misogynist. Conservatives know it’s hogwash, but the left is extraordinarily effective at mesmerizing the ignorant. They march like zombies to the tune of feminism, repeating catchphrases and parroting disproven statistics so they can feel like they’re part of a movement.

Unfortunately, there are real issues facing women today. They happen to be the same issues facing men. When America succeeds, it brings everyone up a level. If women are equal, they should benefit just as much from policies that make it easier for men to make more money, keep more of what they earn, and live their lives with minimal government interference. Divisive gender topics are a distraction.

The media hates Fiorina, just as they hate any Republican who doesn’t have the decency to be a white man. It flusters them to see individuals who refuse to march in lockstep. But maybe if Fiorina can defy the odds and become an important voice for women, liberals will realize that they aren’t the only ones qualified to define feminism.